Though iodine deficiency is prevalent in both men and women in Pakistan, women are at high risk. This week You! highlights a few iodine deficiency disorders among Pakistani women...
health
Though iodine deficiency is prevalent in both men and women in Pakistan, women are at high risk. This week You! highlights a few iodine deficiency disorders among Pakistani women...
According to estimates, nearly 50 million people in Pakistan are suffering from iodine deficiency while 70 per cent of the total population in the country is at risk of iodine deficiency disorders. Studies reveal that more than five million children born every year in Pakistan are unprotected against brain damage while 36 per cent mothers and 23 per cent pre-school children are suffering from iodine deficiency in Pakistan. Pakistan is rated 6th among the countries where iodine deficiency is a serious health problem.
Though iodine deficiency is prevalent in both men and women in Pakistan, women are at high risk and the symptoms also vary between them. “As many as 37 per cent women are suffering from iodine deficiency disorders in the country,” says Karachi-based doctor Dr Arif Hashmat. “Pakistan is an area lacking in iodine, which may lead to the development of goitres,” he adds.
Those at high risk include pregnant women, people who live in mountainous regions where there is very little iodine in the soil, people who don’t use iodised salt and people who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet. Keeping this in mind, this week You! highlights a few iodine deficiency disorders along with its causes and symptoms among women in Pakistan...
Causes & symptoms
An iodine deficiency can cause uncomfortable and even severe symptoms. They include swelling in the neck, pregnancy-related issues, weight gain and learning difficulties.
Its symptoms are very similar to those of hypothyroidism, or low thyroid hormones. Since iodine is used to make thyroid hormones, an iodine deficiency means your body can’t make enough of them, leading to hypothyroidism.
Moreover, goitre is a common symptom of an iodine deficiency. It occurs when your thyroid gland is forced to make thyroid hormones when there is a low supply of iodine in the body. This is called goitre and occurs when the thyroid gland grows too big.
Iodine deficiency disorders
A sudden weight gain: Unexpected weight gain is another sign of an iodine deficiency. It may occur if the body does not have enough iodine to make thyroid hormones. This is because thyroid hormones help control the speed of your metabolism, which is the process by which your body converts food into energy and heat. When your thyroid hormone levels are low, your body burns fewer calories at rest. Unfortunately, this means more calories from the foods you eat are stored as fat.
Adding more iodine to your diet may help reverse the effects of a slow metabolism, as it can help your body make more thyroid hormones.
Hair loss: Thyroid hormones help control the growth of hair follicles. When your thyroid hormone levels are low, your hair follicles may stop regenerating. Over time, this may result in hair loss. For this reason, people with an iodine deficiency may also suffer from hair loss.
One study in 700 people found that 30 per cent of those with low thyroid hormone levels experienced hair loss.
However, other studies have found that low thyroid hormone levels only seem to cause hair loss in those with a family history of hair loss.
Dry skin: Flaky and dry skin may affect many people with an iodine deficiency. Thyroid hormones, which contain iodine, help your skin cells regenerate. When thyroid hormone levels are low, this regeneration doesn’t occur as often, possibly leading to dry, flaky skin. Additionally, thyroid hormones help the body regulate sweat. People with lower thyroid hormone levels, such as those with an iodine deficiency, tend to sweat less than people with normal thyroid hormone levels.
Given that sweat helps keep your skin moist and hydrated, a lack of sweat may be another reason why dry, flaky skin is a common symptom of iodine deficiency.
Dry, flaky skin may occur with an iodine deficiency, as the mineral helps your skin cells regenerate. It also helps your body sweat and hydrates your skin cells, so an iodine deficiency can cause you to sweat less.
Learning troubles: An iodine deficiency may affect your ability to learn and remember. Thyroid hormones help your brain grow and develop. That’s why an iodine deficiency, which is required to make thyroid hormones, can reduce brain development. This is also one of the reasons why children are advised to consume iodised salt in their diet.
In fact, studies have found that the hippocampus, the part of the brain that controls long-term memory, appears to be smaller in people with low thyroid hormone levels. An iodine deficiency at any age may cause you to struggle to learn and remember things. One possible reason for this might be an underdeveloped brain.
Expecting mothers at higher risk: Health experts say that pregnant women are at a high risk of iodine deficiency. This is because they need to consume enough to meet their own daily needs, as well as the needs of their growing baby. The increased demand for iodine continues throughout lactation, as babies receive iodine through breast milk. Not consuming enough iodine throughout pregnancy and lactation may cause side effects for both the mother and baby.
Mothers may experience symptoms of an underactive thyroid, such as a goitre, weakness, fatigue and feeling cold. Meanwhile, an iodine deficiency in infants may stunt physical growth and brain development. Furthermore, a severe iodine deficiency may increase the risk of stillbirth.
Heavy or irregular periods: Heavy and irregular menstrual bleeding may occur as a result of an iodine deficiency.
Like most symptoms of iodine deficiency, this is also related to low levels of thyroid hormones, given that iodine is needed to make thyroid hormones.
In one study, 68 per cent of women with low thyroid hormone levels experienced irregular menstrual cycles, compared to only 12 per cent of healthy women.
Research also shows that women with low thyroid hormone levels experience more frequent menstrual cycles with heavy bleeding. This is because low thyroid hormone levels disrupt the signals of hormones that are involved in the menstrual cycle.
Some women with an iodine deficiency may experience heavy or irregular periods. This is because low thyroid hormone levels may interfere with hormones that are involved in regulating the menstrual cycle.
Sources of iodine:
Iodine rich food should be an essential part of a person’s diet. Iodine is found in various foods such as fish, seaweed, milk, yogurt and other dairy products. Smaller amounts of this mineral are also found in a variety of foods like fish, shellfish, beef, chicken, lima and pinto beans. The best way to get enough iodine is to adding a dash of iodized salt to your meals. Half a teaspoon over the course of the day is enough to avoid a deficiency.
What to do in case...
If you think you have an iodine deficiency, it’s best to consult your doctor. They will check for signs of swelling goitre or take a urine sample to check your iodine levels. Luckily, the deficiency is easy to prevent.
